Peace and presence by the sea…

Union Church is an interdenominational Christian church that welcomes those who wish to journey with us as we seek to receive and follow God’s sacred spirit and the ethical teachings of Jesus Christ. We are an evolving community of faith that seeks to reflect the love and compassion of God through our conduct. We follow the teaching of Jesus to love God, neighbor, and self. We have reverence for Earth and all living creatures. We are a worshiping community that gathers to give thanks and to celebrate the Holy Presence of God in all things. We welcome all visitors.

A new chapter began this month here at Union Church in Biddeford Pool. Reverend Paula Norbert is now our Pastor! As the Moderator and chair of the eight person search committee I am especially proud to offer this welcome to this new era at Union Church. Over two years ago Reverend Jan Hryniewicz announced her plan to retire as our long serving pastor. As we all know Jan brought the Union Church from the brink of extinction to the thriving, vibrant church and church family so many of us have enjoyed for years. Reverend Nancy Bancroft then entered the picture as our Interim Pastor and has not only maintained what we had when Jan retired but helped it to thrive, grow and be fine-tuned to now pass off to Reverend Paula Norbert.

Paula has a wealth of experience in her ministerial career and we hope her time at Union Church will be long and possibly the culmination of her career. Rest assured though, Union Church family, we will be the same place we all love and care so much about. Paula has a great reverence for tradition and has no plans to turn our world upside down. In all the contact she has already had with some of us, especially the church lay leadership, and Nancy, it is clear that she has absorbed what makes Union Church tick and thrive. Sure there will be some tweaking and new touches that reflect her experience and style. I am confident, though, her ability to “read people” and engage us all with her personality means that Union Church will carry on and thrive.

Pastor Paula wants to get to know us as individuals and is planning to offer scheduled time slots at the church and in the church office in the Pepperell Mill Building for some one on one visiting. She has already met with the Deacons and soon will join the Mission Committee at its bi-monthly meeting. The Executive Committee will also soon sit down with Paula to review the summer activities and plan for the fall church business. Paula wants to visit the various local mission projects championed by Union Church.

As a testimony to the uniqueness and independence of Union Church we will be blessed to still find Nancy and Tom Bancroft, Jan and Ed Hryniewicz, as well as other retired ministers from other churches in our midst. Paula Norbert will be our pastor but these beloved church members will be our friends and colleagues helping to be sure our church remains the “Peace and Presence” by the sea we all love.

I want to invite you all to connect with Paula, meet her husband Rich, a Scarborough school teacher and welcome their young teenage kids to Union Church. Please feel comfortable to turn to Paula for any pastoral needs in the weeks and months ahead. She will be there for us as individuals as well as an inspiration to the whole church family.

With optimism and confidence,

Paul Schlaver, Moderator

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